Crypto Safety Tips › Address Poisoning
The short answer: Address poisoning is when a scammer sends you a tiny or zero-value transfer from an address that looks almost exactly like one you use, so it appears in your history. If you later copy the address from your history, you send your crypto to the scammer. Always copy addresses from a trusted source, check the whole address, and send a small test first.
How does address poisoning work?
Scammers watch the blockchain for addresses you send to. They generate a new address with the same first and last few characters, then send you a tiny or worthless transfer from it. Your wallet shows it in your history, right next to the real one. Most people only check the start and end of an address, so the fake looks right.
Why does it work so well?
Addresses are long and hard to read, so we shortcut: copy from history, glance at the first and last four characters, send. That shortcut is exactly what the scam is built around. The transaction is final, so there is no way to get the money back.
How do I protect myself?
- Never copy an address from your transaction history.
- Save addresses you use often in your wallet's address book, from a trusted source.
- Check the whole address, not just the ends.
- For big amounts, send a small test first and confirm it arrived.
- Check what you pasted matches what you copied; some malware swaps addresses on your clipboard.
- Ignore and hide unexpected tiny transfers and strange tokens.
Quick questions
Can address poisoning steal from my wallet directly?
No. It only works if you send funds to the fake address yourself, which is why checking the whole address matters.
Should I interact with the tiny transfers?
No. Ignore them and hide any unknown tokens. Do not visit links or try to sell them.
Every owl.fun address starts 0WL and is useless anywhere else, a reminder that an address that looks right isn't always right.
Keep learning
General safety information, not financial or legal advice. HooTang Clan has no token, and nothing on this page is a reason to buy anything. Report fraud to Action Fraud, or Police Scotland on 101.